SDG 4. Quality Education

• Centre for Higher Education Development and Training
• Laboratory for Research and Training in Higher Education
• “University of Bucharest Graduate Employment Observatory” Research Centre

• Partnership for pathways to higher education and science engagement in regional clusters of open schooling
• Access to higher education in post-communist Romania
• Social contribution through health optimisation literacy to academic resilience in schools

The University of Bucharest aims to provide resources to the wider community and develop programmes and actions for various students, including non-traditional students and potential students. In concrete terms, it provides free access to educational resources for those not studying at the university, including courses, access to educational resources and lectures, as exemplified by the following examples.

Access to courses:

At the same time, the university is also developing learning programmes to update the skills of its staff. Some of these activities include:

• Through the UB SEED programme – Educational Support for Disadvantaged Students – the University of Bucharest offers educational resources to students from underprivileged backgrounds. Some of the resources provided include online courses offered by teachers/students/graduates of the University of Bucharest so that the syllabus specific to national evaluation is appropriately covered; mentoring offered by students or graduates of the University of Bucharest, who guide and support the students in their school course; events that include training and socialisation activities, summer schools, workshops; material support (laptop, school supplies) and the reimbursement of expenses undertaken for academic purposes.
• The teachers and students from the University of Bucharest continued to offer Free training courses together with pre-university teachers for high school students preparing for the baccalaureate exam and candidates for the entrance exam for bachelor studies at the faculties of the University of Bucharest.
• Measures to support lifelong learning include UniBuc Peer learning. The programme, launched in 2021, included training/peer learning sessions for academic staff on subjects regarding publishing, project writing & and project management, data analysis, and innovative pedagogies. In 2023, 38 workshops/training sessions were available, with over 300 participants.
• A similar programme has been developed for the administrative staff, with courses relevant to their field of work. In 2022-2023, 42 training courses were organized within this programme, attended by 1024 participants and completed by 801 UB employees. The thematic areas for these courses include teamwork and team management, digitization of administrative processes and digital competences, effective communication skills and language competences, organizational change, document management, diversity, gender equality and inclusion and other topics proposed by the trainers.
• In the last two years, the University of Bucharest has resumed training courses to prepare exams for teachers looking to advance in their careers (2^nd level examinations). In 2023 alone, more than 400 teachers from pre-university education have taken these courses. In addition to this activity, the Teacher Training Office has prepared 13 issues of the InfoProf Newsletter (started in 2021), which is sent to a database of more than 2500 pre-university teachers.
• A curriculum for Cognitive Education was developed within the Erasmus+ project CORTTEX – Cognitive Resources for Toddlers Teens and Experts, coordinated by the University of Bucharest. It is a tool to support teachers and other adults involved in educational activities (counsellors, psychologists, parents, etc.) in implementing an education based on cognitive development. The curriculum is aimed at specialists in pre-school, primary and secondary education, with content and activities adapted to the age level of the pupils. The course “Strategies, methods and technologies for teaching students with learning difficulties” was developed within the same project. The course, available on the project’s e-Learning platform, includes eight modules covering essential topics in the education of children with learning difficulties, an e-book and a final knowledge certification quiz, which participants will be awarded a certificate of completion.

Access to educational resources:

• Several of UB’s educational resources are available to the public outside the university. The Educational Resources section of the institutional website provides access to e-books published by UB faculties, UB journals and yearbooks, and the web catalogue of books digitised as part of the project Recovery of Anglicistics in Romania. This section of the UB website also includes the Virtual History Library (Unibuc CLASSICA), a library containing valuable works for both students studying history and the general public interested in the field. The same section provides links to international databases that those interested (both members of the university community and people from outside) can consult and use for writing scientific papers or documentation, which is accessible without an institutional account.
• Another important resource is the Digital Archive of the Museum of the University of Bucharest (DAMUB), which makes unpublished documents in digital format from the Museum of the University of Bucharest heritage available to the public.
• The Botanical Garden also has a page dedicated to educational resources.
• The UB Learning Centre also has a page dedicated to resources, with topics like communication, stress management, learning to learn, academic writing and others.
• The project University of Bucharest – An inclusive and fair academic community (InclUB), which aims to increase the degree of social inclusion to transform our academic community into a safer space where all members of the community can access quality education, with equal opportunities and no discrimination, has created, among others, two online modules on: 1. Gender equality, and 2. Diversity, equality and social inclusion are accessible to all community members. These modules include educational resources and quizzes for participants to test their knowledge.

 

Access to lectures:

• The Communication of Science is a programme addressed to the general public and accessible to all interested parties. The programme is the University of Bucharest’s answer to all who want to know more about science, cutting-edge research and its concrete results, and the applicability and relevance of research to real life. Thus, the Communication of Science Programme primarily involves the organisation of events dedicated to researchers, science enthusiasts and the general public to promote scientific activities and results, as well as the creation of content related to the different fields of science (articles, audio or video interviews, reports and other promotional materials). The events are open to all interested parties, and recordings of the events are available on the UB Youtube
• “microSCOP: UB researcher at the microphone” aims to present information about the concrete results of notable research endeavours at the UB dynamically and succinctly. These micro-interviews focus on the research topics, the methods used, the approach’s concrete results, and the practical applicability of the research and its results. All 12 interviews carried out so far are accessible online.
• The “SKEPSIS” series is designed to present social controversies on topics such as vaccination, climate change, social media algorithms and artificial intelligence engagingly and dynamically. The series also presents the legitimizing tactics used in counter-scientific discourses by challenging new perspectives on these controversies. The list of topics addressed so far includes About online education during the pandemic (with Dr. Alexandra Hosszu and drd. Diana Moga), On the formation of attitudes of trust or distrust in vaccination (with dr. Simona-Nicoleta Vulpe and drd. Diana Moga), On the posthumous presence of scientists in the public space (with lect. dr. Ștefania Matei and drd. Dragoș Obreja) and others.
• Another form of sharing information with the wide public is through the UB Dose of Science,
• The Interdisciplinary School of Doctoral Studies organised a series of conferences on various topics, including Silent overpassing of climatic critical points towards irreversible transitions (presented by Prof. Mihai Dima), Disgust in intergroup relations (Presented by Andreea Luca), Dismissive reviews & citation cartels (Prof. Richard Phelps), Hyperpolarized 13C magnetic resonance- enabling real-time metabolic image (Prof. Arnaud Comment), Exploring social media in search of mental disorder cues (Ana-Maria Bucur), Magnetic Symmetry Across Disciplines (Prof. Paul Vasos), Pain, from Aristotle to the Gate Control Theory, via Descartes (Prof. Alexandru Babeș) and others.
• The Center for Applied Ethics (CEA) organizes weekly debates open to the general public.
• Laboratory of Clinical Cognitive Sciences constantly organises events and webinars for mental health and well-being. For example, in 2023, they organized the 5th edition of Brain Awareness Week, which focused on brain and mental health, featuring 17 lectures and workshops on topics like autism, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s prevention, digital mental health interventions, and the neurobiology of pain. Sessions were available both in-person and online, and the event was free for students, faculty, and the public.

The University of Bucharest hosts events at the university that are open to the general public, including:

• Since 2018, the University of Bucharest has contributed to the organization of the Măgurele Science and Technology Summer School (MSciTeh), dedicated to high school students, teachers in the STEM area (physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, computer science, geography, technologies) and school counsellors in middle and high school. The sixth edition started on Monday, August 21, 2023, and had the topic “Applications of science and research for health”. For the second consecutive year, the Summer School was held under the patronage of the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitization. 6 faculties and 7 institutes collaborate in the organization of this event.
• In October 2022, the second edition of TEDxUniversity Of Bucharest took place. The thematic concept of this event, Disrupted normality: Learn to Relearn shed light on a possible new normal in which unexpected, disruptive events and uncertainty become a constant part of everyday life. This edition’s lectures included: What does a happy student mean today? (Anca Nedelcu), The war from (t)here. On the conflict in Afghanistan and Ukraine (Zaker Hussain Ershad), Zaker Hussain Ershad (Marian Preda), Language Romanian and the Internet: a provisional review. What is lost, and what is gained? (Rodica Zafiu), Duel with success (Duel with success), Duel with success (Alina Greavu), Is the unlearning the future of learning? (Romiţă Iucu), How do we think thinking? (Sorin Costreie). The event was available to the general public, both live and as recordings (on the University’s Facebook and YouTube accounts). Previously, in 2020, the first edition of the TedX University of Bucharest took place, which was dedicated to Mind the Gap. Creating (Comm)Unity.
• In September 2023, the University of Bucharest participated, together with some of the largest research institutes and some of the most important higher education institutions in Romania, in the Night of Researchers. This traditional event aims to bring science closer to the general public. This year’s theme was “ReCoNnect – Research for Health” and aimed to show the general public how science can contribute to developing solutions for people’s and the environment’s health.
• The Museum of the University of Bucharest is included in the Long Night of Museums Route, with the exhibition “A journey through the history of science education at the University of Bucharest (1863-1948)“.

The University of Bucharest offers executive education programmes open to the general public through its Lifelong Learning study offer for postgraduate programmes. The study offer includes the following 23 programmes:

1. Sustainability expert
2. Patient Navigator
3. Radiation protection, radiation hygiene and environmental protection
4. Radiological protection in nuclear medicine and radiotherapy: Contemporary approaches and clinical implications
5. Radiotherapy – physical principles and clinical applications
6. Digital pedagogy
7. Fundamentals of Psychology
8. Library and Information Science
9. Training of administrative staff in educational institutions
10. Modern approaches in special psychopedagogy
11. Leadership and Management Skills
12. Applied Psychology in Diplomacy and International Relations
13. Theoretical analysis of administrative code regulations
14. Basics of geographical information systems
15. Advanced geographic information systems
16. Educational leadership for sustainable transformation
17. Fundamentals of Institutions and Capital Markets
18. Values-based leadership
19. E-government and public communication principles
20. Sustainable entrepreneurship
21. Ethics and integrity in pre-university education
22. Introduction to practising philosophy with children
23. Philosophy and social education

• More information on the functioning of these programmes is available here.
• Additionally, the UB Lifelong Learning offer also includes several professional conversion programmes in Geography of Tourism (long distance), Geography Professional Conversion Programme (long distance), History Professional Conversion Programme (long distance), Primary and Pre-school Education Pedagogy, and Romani Language and Literature (IF).
• The Ariel Language Centre of the Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures, University of Bucharest, organises language courses for different levels, which interested people from outside the university can attend. At the end of a level, students receive a certificate of participation, which mentions the type and duration of the course, as well as the grade obtained at the end of the final evaluation.

The University of Bucharest undertakes educational outreach activities beyond campus, both as initiatives from the central level but also through its numerous faculties, departments, centres and, of course, the members of the community:

• Between March and May 2023, the University of Bucharest hosted “Open Days” events, welcoming prospective students to explore its faculties. High school students and future applicants were invited to get insights from professors and counsellors about the educational programs available for the 2023–2024 academic year. The events aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of university life, including admission details, student housing, fees, and more. Faculties organized presentations of bachelor’s and master’s programs, open courses, guided tours, discussions with faculty members and current students, exhibitions, conferences, and workshops on various topics. The complete schedule is accessible here.
• The Students’ Association of the University of Bucharest, in partnership with the University of Bucharest, organizes yearly the UB Summer University (UBSU). This event aims to show high school students from all over the country what 14 days in the life of a University of Bucharest student looks like. More details here.
• To be more accessible to the public but also to meet the changing requirements of the labour market, the University of Bucharest has opened three branches outside the Bucharest university centre: at Focșani, offering study programmes in Business administration, Tourism geography, Primary and early childhood pedagogy, at Drobeta Turnu Severin has two study programme in Territorial planning and Tourism geography, at Călimănești has a study programme in Tourism geography, and at Buzău a study programme in Primary and early childhood pedagogy. Through these programmes, the university provides its graduates with greater stability concerning the labour market by providing them access to the highest quality educational services while contributing more broadly to reducing poverty and social inequalities in the areas where they were established.
• Several faculties of the University organized activities within the “Green Week” program. A group of teachers from the Faculty of Geography of the University of Bucharest carried out a support project for the pre-university environment, which consisted of programming and organizing 12 lectures on topics related to the objectives proposed by the Ministry of Education. The Faculty of Chemistry organized the “ChimEcoFest Green Week“. At the same time, over 22,000 students participated in educational activities organized in the Botanical Garden “Dimitrie Brandză”. These events promoted environmental education and awareness of the importance of protecting the environment, providing students with learning opportunities through direct experiences in nature and practical applications.
• The University of Bucharest (Faculties of Geography and Biology) and the National Bilingual College “George Coșbuc” in Bucharest organised the project PULCHRA – Science in Urban Environments: building community Centres for participatory learning through research and activation. Through the PULCHRA project, the high school students were encouraged and supported to get directly involved in researching environmental challenges specific to Bucharest.
• The UNESCO International Geopark Tara Hațegului is an outdoor laboratory targeting pupils and students for formal and non-formal education. To encourage interdisciplinary learning, they have created the informal EduGeoparc network in partnership with the Hunedoara County School Inspectorate, which includes schools in the Geopark territory. The “EduGEoparc Science School” was implemented through this network, which involves a network member school inviting a recognised researcher/scientist to an online discussion to tell the other member schools about his/her research. The volunteer programme initiated by Geopark in 2013 has become a national and international model. Since the programme’s inception, more than 300 young people have been officially enrolled on a contractual basis, with the University of Bucharest issuing VoluntPass certificates for those who complete a certain number of volunteer hours. Since 2016, the most motivated volunteers are trained to become Geopark Ambassadors. It is a unique programme in the Global Geoparks Network (GGN) and a model for other territories.
• The Dimitrie Brândză Botanical Garden organises numerous educational programmes specific to its sphere of activity and open to the local community. Many programmes are dedicated to children, such as “Little Botanist” or “Healthy Food – All About Fruit and Vegetables”. They also created and promoted the event “Urban Refuge@Botanical Garden”, a cultural and recreational project dedicated to all Bucharest residents who love music, movies, and art in general, aiming to develop creativity and social interactions and diversify the cultural offers available in Bucharest.
• On July 19, 2023, the ArchaeoSciences Platform of the Research Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB) organized, under the initiative of the Sultana School of Archaeology, within the SciResCareer project, the workshop “Little Archaeologist” at the archaeological site Sultana, jud. Calarasi. The event was attended by 40 students of the Secondary School “Mihai Viteazul” from Călărași, who, together with the coordinating teachers (Dragomir Marcela, Dumitrașcu Andreea, Gheorghe Ana, Ungureanu Reasilvia), benefited from the presentation and experimentation of ArchaeoSciences methods on the archaeological site of Sultana.
• The Career Counselling and Guidance Centre of the University of Bucharest organises periodic career education events in high schools in Bucharest and the country.
• The University of Bucharest implemented the project “The Traveling Laboratory”, which it was aimed to “identify children with a disadvantaged material situation and co-opt them in a program of multidisciplinary courses and laboratories, which include theoretical aspects in the fields of biology, chemistry and geography, but also laboratories with practical experimental activities. Students’ access to alternative teaching methods or sources will be facilitated to improve environmental knowledge through STEM approaches. Part of the events were organized outside the UB campus, so meetings occurred at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Bucharest and at the “Grigore Antipa” National Museum of Natural History.

All the activities mentioned above, and many others that the university is organising, are accessible to all, regardless of ethnicity, religion, disability, immigration status or gender.

• The Charter of the University of Bucharest (art. 19, par. 1 and 2) establishes the conditions of access to the university community as follows: “(1). Access to the university community by admission as a student or by occupying a teaching or research position, as well as the exercising of managerial functions, is free, under the conditions of the law, and may not be prevented or restricted for reasons of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, political or religious conviction. (2). Student access to a study programme or course presupposes the existence of a certain level of knowledge, duly specified in the conditions of enrolment, or a minimum number of students.”
• Moreover, Art. 11, letter d of the Code of Ethics and Deontology of the University of Bucharest specifies that it is forbidden in the university community to discriminate, understood as any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference, based on race, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, social category, beliefs, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, illness of any kind, belonging to a disadvantaged category, as well as any other criterion that has the purpose or effect of restricting, eliminating the recognition, use or exercise, under equal terms, of human rights.